Online Registration is Now Open

Nine hours that could help change your life!

Life Skills is a completely free educational programme from Aware which is delivered over the course of six weeks. Each enjoyable session is 90 minutes and the programme can help participants make a real difference in their lives.

With the help of a series of easy-to-follow booklets and expert guidance from a trained facilitator at each session, participants can learn how to manage feelings of stress, worry, anxiety or depression, and learn simple and practical skills to help them cope with life’s challenges.

Life Skills is offered in a group setting with each group comprising around 25 people.

Life Skills is proudly supported by the fundraising efforts of Tesco staff and customers nationwide, thanks to the Tesco Charity of the Year Partnership.

A little more about Life Skills

Life Skills is based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is a therapy that focuses on thinking and behaviour and has been shown to be an effective treatment for mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety.

When a person is experiencing depression or facing challenging life situations they may think and behave in unhelpful ways. CBT helps the person to make practical changes in these areas, which can help improve how they feel and also reduce some of the symptoms associated with depression, stress or anxiety.

The Life Skills programme has been developed by Dr. Chris Williams. Dr. Williams is a Professor of Psychiatry and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist at the University of Glasgow and is a recognised expert in the area of CBT.

CBT is a proven treatment for anxiety and mild to moderate depression and many previous participants of our Life Skills course have found it to be hugely beneficial to them.

Evaluation and accreditation

The Life Skills programme has been independently evaluated by Aware. The
evaluation showed a statistically significant improvement in participants’ self-reported levels of anxiety and depression after completing the programme. This means that
participants of the Life Skills programme reported less levels of anxiety and depression after completing the programme.

Life Skills is also consistent with the National Institute for Health and Care
Excellence (NICE) guidelines for the treatment of depression and anxiety. NICE is an organisation which provides independent, authoritative and evidence-based guidance on the most effective ways to prevent, diagnose and treat ill-health. The organisation currently provides guidance to the NHS, local authorities, charities and anyone with a responsibility for commissioning or providing healthcare, public health or social care services.

How do I sign up for the programme?

Online registration is now open for the next schedule of Life Skills Group programmes which will begin the second week in March, 2014. Please complete the online application form and select your preferred location from 21 options nationwide.

Free

Independently evaluated

Consistent with NICE guidelines

Enjoyable

Group setting

Feedback

There is excellent evidence that CBT works for the treatment of anxiety and mild to moderate depression and many previous participants of our Life Skills course have found it to be hugely beneficial to them.

Read some of the great feedback from people who have already attended one of our Life Skills programmes in 2013.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the programme aimed at?
The programme is aimed at individuals who are experiencing mild to moderate depression, stress and/or anxiety and who can commit to attending one session per week for six weeks.

How many sessions are there?
There are six sessions – one session per week for six consecutive weeks, except in the case of Monday sessions, when Bank Holidays will be skipped.

How long do sessions last?
Each session lasts 90 minutes.

Will I have to discuss personal issues and problems?
All attendees will have opportunities to share with the group, but nobody will ever be obliged to share personal information or experiences.

Do I have to attend all sessions?
Yes, you must commit to attending all six sessions.

How many people are in the group?
Each group will contain on average 25 people and there must be a minimum of 20 people for a group to go ahead.

Is this programme only for individuals of 18 years and over?
Yes, only individuals of 18 and over may take part in Aware’s Life Skills programme.

Is this programme right for me?
If the statements below apply to you, then you could benefit from this programme.

I am currently affected by mild to moderate depression or anxiety

I would like to make some changes in my life and am prepared to try new ways of dealing with life’s challenges

I am not currently experiencing a major life event such as a recent bereavement, major relationship problem or a significant trauma

I can commit to attending all six sessions of the programme

I have basic reading skills

I feel quite comfortable in a group setting

I feel I can concentrate and give my attention for the duration of each session i.e. about 90 minutes

15 Responses to “Online Registration is Now Open”

Hello Irene,
All the details are in the online form drop down of locations. Please click into the online form and click on the counties to view more details. Unfortunately we don’t have a Life Skills programme in Wexford starting in March but we do have a Support Group in Gorey. This group meets at the Gorey Family Resource Centre, 4 Charlotte Row, Main Street every Wednesday at 7.30pm. Please call our office if you’d like to find out more details Irene.

Hi Chris, we hope to offer more programmes later this year however dates for the next round of programmes have not yet been finalised. Please check our Facebook page or homepage for updates. Thank you.

Hi Kristo, There is currently a Life Skills Group programme in Castlebar in Mayo – however it;s now in week 5 of the programme. We hope to offer another programme in Mayo in Septemebr 2014. We also have 3 support groups currently active in Mayo. To find out more about these groups, please check our ‘Support Group Locations’page.